The multinational private equity company Blackstone is poised to acquire the live event and exhibition operator NEC Group in a deal worth more than $800m. “The takeover has been agreed and just needs to be formally signed,” said one source. “An official announcement is likely to made soon.” The NEC Group owns and operates the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, which hosts the annual dog show Crufts and was the venue for the Gladiators television show between 1992 and 2000 .